U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to the Vatican on May 7 for talks with Pope Leo XIV, in a visit widely seen as an attempt to repair relations strained by former President Trump’s public criticism of the papacy. The Hindu reports that several Italian commentators believe Rubio’s motivations were not purely diplomatic — they suspect he is also looking to burnish his own political profile ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.
The meeting comes at a delicate moment in U.S.-Vatican relations, and the diplomatic choreography suggests both sides have an interest in de-escalation.
